I owned both, and in fact bought my 15 in 1 mile on the speedometer. if it wasn't for the electrical issues and minor breakdowns that finally got me crazy, I would still be on that bike. It is a very good machine, supremely comfortable, much easier to use the display than the crappy XR instrument cluster, and the leaning lights are amazing. Further, it actually has fog lights that you can easily install. On that basis it is an awesome machine. The XR is more exciting to ride and if the vibration does not drive you bonkers, then that is the better bike. But both are good machines with their pluses and minuses--if I could get the cornering lights, LED lights, and the instrument cluster on the XR I would be super happy.